Gripping device.



C. F. GATER.

GRIPPING DEVICE.

APPLmATIoN rILED 133.20. 1911.

1,004,366. Patented Sept. 26,1911.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

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` a citizen of the United States CHARLES F. CATER, OF PLEASANT CITY,OHIO.

GRIPPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911. Serial No. 622,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. CATER, of America, residing at PleasantCity, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in VGrripping Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had theretion with oil andArtesian well in to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a gripping device especially designed for usein connecdrilling machines.

' The primary object of my invention is to vprovide a gripping devicethat will facilitate the lowering and raising of casings, tubes, rodsand other structures in wells, the device being designed to prevent theloss or dropp-ing of casings, tubes and rods when the hoisting mechanismor other supporting devices break or become accidentally dish engaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gripping device thatcan be easily installed upon the derrick floor adjacent to the wellhole, whereby it will always be in position ready for adjustment to gripa casing, tube, rod or other structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gripping device of theabove type that is simple in construction, durable, easy to manipulate,and highly efficient for the purposes for which it is intended.

Withthe above and other objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference willnow be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the grippingdevice, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nsame, Fig. 3 isan end view of the device,

and Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the device.

A device in accordance wit-h this invention comprises two angle bars'larranged in parallelism with the lateral Hanges 2 thereof in closeproximity, and these flanges,

intermediate the ends of said bars, are cut away, as at 3 to provide anopening 4 adapted to register with a well hole 5.

The bars 1 at one end thereof are connected by a transverse head 6having a central opening 7 with the wall thereof screw threaded.Adjustably mounted in the opening 7 of the head 6 is a screw 8 having awinged head 9 whereby said screw can be easily rotated. The inner end ofthe screw 8 is provided with a swiveled member 10 having a curvedbearing surface which overlaps and is engaged throughout by the outerrounded end of a gripping jaw 11, said jaw having the outer end thereofprovided with laterally projecting pins 12 which extend intolongitudinal slots 13 rovided therefor in vertical portions of thears 1. The inner end of the jaw 11 curves downwardly and is bifurcatedor notched, as at 14. The inner wall of the furcation is rounded andinwardly beveled as at 14a. The jaw 11 has its upper face provided witha relatively narrow enlargement 15 which is flush at one end with thetop edge of the wall 141 of the furcation and which coperates with thesaid wall in gripping a casing, pipe or rod 16. The enlargement 15 hasan eye 17 whereby it can be easily elevated. The curved inner end of thejaw 11 is supported upon the lateral flanges 2 of the bars 1 beyond theopening 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. y

The opposite ends of the angle bars l are connected by a bolt 18 and anut 19. Located upon the bolt 18 between the bars 1 is a spacing sleeve20 and loosely mounted upon the bolt at the outer sides of the bars 1 isa stirrup 21 adapted to facilitate the moving of the gripping device.For instance, a hoisting cable can be attached to the stirrup whereby acasing, tube or rod can be elevated by raising the stirrup, or the cablecan be attached to the stirrup to swing the gripping jaws out of theroad when not in use.

Arranged between the bars 1 adjacent to the bolt 18 is a gripping jaw 23provided at its outer end with a pair of trunnions 22 which are mountedin the vertical portions of the bars 1. The inner end of the jaw 23curves downwardly and is bifurcated as at 24. The inner wall of thefurcation is rounded and is inwardly beveled as at 25. Connected to thejaw 23 in proximity to its inner end is an eye 26 to facilitate theelevating of said jaw when occasion so requires. The inner end of thejaw 23 is supported upon the inner end of the jaw 11 at each side of theenlargement 15. The inwardly beveled walls 14a and 25 constitute whatmay be termed gripping surfaces for the casing tube or rod.

In operation, the confronting or overlapping ends of the jaws 11 and 23are adapted to frictionally engage the casing, tube or rod 16, and asthe casing is elevated the gripping jaws 11 and Q3 recede, but shouldthe elevating mechanism break and the casing be accidentally released,the jaws 11 and 23 immediately grip the casing t0 kprevent its suddendescent into the well 5.

It is through the medium of the screw 8 that the jaw 11 can be adjustedwhereby casings of various diameters can be gripped, and it is apparentfrom the foregoing that the device saves considerable time and labor byobviating the necessity of employing tongs, wrenches and clamps forholding the casings, tubes or rods when being installed or removed froma well.

r1`he device in its entirety is made of strong and durable metal and ofvarious sizes.

What I claim isi-.-

l. A gripping device comprising angle bars, said bars having the lateraledges thereof cut away to provide an opening, a gripping aw trunnionedin said bars at its outer end and having a downwardly curved inner endsupported by said bars, and a gripping jaw trunnioned at its outer endin said bars and having a downwardly curved inner end supported by andcoperating with the curved inner end of the other jaw for gripping anobject.

2. A gripping device comprising a pair of angle bars opposing each otherand having the lateral edges cut away to provide an opening, a grippingjaw adjustably trunnioned in said bars at its outer end and having itsinner end curving downwardly and supported by said bars, a gripping jawtrunnioned at its outer end in said bars and having its inner endcurving downwardly and supportedby and coperating with the curved innerend of the other jaw for gripping an object, and a screw adjustablysupported between said bars and engaging the first mentioned aw foradjusting it.`

3. A gripping device comprising a pair of angle bars opposing each otherand having the lateral edges cut away to provide an opening a grippingjaw adjustably trunnioned in said bars at its outer end and having itsinner end curving downwardly and supported by said bars, a gripping jawtrunnioned at its outer end in said bars and having its inner endcurving downwardly and supported by andl cooperating with the curvedinner end of the other jaw for gripping an object, a screw adjustablysupported between said bars and engaging the rst mentioned jaw foradjusting it, and eyes cai ried by said jaws and adapted to facilitatethe moving thereof.

4. A gripping device comprising a pair of angle bars opposing each otherand having the lateral edges cut away to provide an opening, a grippingjaw adjustably trunnioned insaid bars at its outer end and having itsinner end curving downwardly and supported by said bars, a gripping jawtrunnioned at its outer end in said bars and having its inner endcurving downwardly and supported by and cooperating with the curvedinner end of the other jaw for gripping an object, a screw adj ustablysupported betweenl said bars and engaging the first mentioned jaw foradjusting it, eyes carried by said jaws and adapted to facilitate the'moving thereof, and a stirrup connected tosaid bars.

5. A gripping device comprising a pair of jaw bodies each pivoted at itsouter end, means for longitudinally adjusting one of said jaws withrespect to the other, said jaws having the inner ends thereof curvingdownwardly and bifurcated, the inner wald of the furcation of each ofsaid jaws being in- Y wardly beveled and oppositely disposed withrespect to the other, the inner curved end of one of said jaws supportedby the inner curved end of the other of said jaws,l said inner wallsconstituting gripping surfaces.

6. A grippingy device comprising a pair of" jaw bodies each pivoted atits outer end,

means for longitudinally adjusting one of said jaws with respect to theother, said jaws having the inner ends thereof curving downr wardly andbifurcated,y the innerfwall of the, furcation o-f each of said jawsbeingv inwardly beveled and oppositely disposed with respect to theother, the inner curved end of one of said jaws su ported bythe innercurved end of the ot er of said jaws, said. inner walls constitutinggripping surfaces and an enlargement upon the inner curve end of one ofsaid jaws and flush with the inner wall of the furcation of that jawwithwhich the enlargement is. formed integral.

7. A gripping device comprising a` pairl of jaw bodies each pivoted atits outer end, means for longitudinally adjusting one of said jaws withrespect to the other, said jaws ,having the inner ends thereof curvingldowncurved end of the other of said jaws, said inner walls constitutinggripping surfaces,

and means to facilitate the shiftingv of said jaws upon their pivots.

8. A gripping device comprising a pair of jaw bodies each pivoted at itsouter end, means for longitudinally adjusting one. of

Y one of said jaws supported by the inner wall of the furcation of thatjaw with which the 4enlargement is formed integral, and means tofacilitate the shifting of said jaws upon their pivots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES F. CATER.

curved end of the other of said jaws, said inner walls constitutinggripping surfaces, an enlar ement upon the inner curved end of one o1'gsaid jaws and flush with the inner Witnesses:

MANsEL WILLIAMS, EDGAR ARCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Washington, D. C.

Commissioner of Patents,

